Jockey or rope grip for mechanical haulage and the like



Jail. 13. 1925. 1,523,088

T. M. SMITH JOCKEY 0R ROPE GRIP FOR MECHANICAL HAULAGE AND THE LIKE FjLl 'ed Sept. e, 1923 ?atented Jan. 13, 1225.

UNH'LI'E D STATES PATENT QFFICE.

THOIVIAS MILLAR SMITH, 0E JOHANNESBURG, TRANSVAAL, AFRICA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH T0. ARTHUR HAROLD VICTOR; KENT, OF UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA.

J OGKEY OR ROPE GRIP FOR MECHANICAL HAULAGE AND THE LIKE.

Application filed September 6, 1923. Serial No. 661,278.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS MrLLAn SMITH, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and resident of Johannesburg, Transvaal Province, Union of South Africa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Jockeys or Rope Grips for Mechanical Haulage and the like, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to jockeys or rope gr-ips for detachably connecting trucks, coal tubs, or other wheeled vehicles to the travelling rope or cable in mechanical haulages and the like.

The object of the invention is to construct a simple and etlicient jockey or rope grip whicl, while possessing all the advantages in operation of the known swan-neck type of jockey, has the further advantage that it will not release the rope or admit of it leaving the jockey by movement in an upward direction until the jockey is positively operatedto release the rope. Thus, when a jockey constructed according to my invention is used on a truck or the like traversing a track the gradient of which is not regular, or part of which is substantially on the level and another part inclined, the rope is not able to pull out of or leave the jockey or grip, until the latter is operated to release it.

The invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein I illustrate a practical embodiment thereof. In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the jockey.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof.

Fig- 3 is a P a Fig. {t is an elevation of the operating lever, looking in the opposite direction to F s 2., nd

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan of Fig. 4:, on line In the embodiment illustrated, 1 denotes a main part or member which is formed or provided, in the ordinary construction, with a downwardly extending cylindrical stem 2 adapted to fit into and work in the bracket or support-notshownordinari1y provided on the truck or other vehicle. This main part 1, as is usual with the swan-neck type .of jockey, is able to swing or rotate about the stem 2. 3 is the collar provided on the upper portion of the stem 2 which restson or engages with the bracket orsupport, and 4 is the removable collar provided at the lower end of the stern and fixed thereon by the pin or the like 5 in order to prevent the stem 2 from leaving the bracket when in use.

The main part 1 is also constructed at one end with an upwardly directed extension 6, in which one of the gripping faces 7 of-the jockey is formed. The main part 1 is constructed with a square hole 8 extending therethrough, and at the side opposite the extension 6 it is constructed with a further upwardly extending part 9 which serveshs a stop for the operating lever 10, hereinafter referred to, when said lever is in its operative position.

The extension 6 of the main part 1 is rounded from the top for a suitabledistzgice, as indicated at 11 in Fig. 1. The recess forming the gripping face 7 may be of semi-circular, as shown, angular, or other suitable shape to receive and retain the rope 12. This recess 7 is preferably rounded laterally, as indicated at 13 in Fig. 3, in order to avoid damage to the rope 12.

14 is a further and movable part or portion in the form of a rod or bar eonstructed at the one end with an upwardly directed extension 15, similar to the extension 6, in which the other semi-circular and laterally rounded gripping face 16 of the jockey is formed. The other end of part' 141 is inade cylindrical and screw-threaded, as indicated at 17, for a short distance. Intermediate the screwed end 17 and the extension 15 the rod or bar 14 is made square in cross-section and the square portion is arranged in the square hole 8 inthe main part 1 and adapted to slide therein when the movable part 14- is operated to grip or release the rope 12. The cylindrical end 17 of the rod or bar projects through the main portion 1 andon said cylindrical part 17 is loosely pivoted the operating lever 10, which retained in position on the rod or bar let by a iiut 18 and lock nut 19 screwed on to the end 17 of the rod or bar 1 1.

The part 14 is constructed with a down wardly extending lug or projection 20 in which is formed a hole 21 adapted to work upon a pin. 22 screwed into the main part 1.

The gripping faces 7 and 1 6 are oppositely disposed sothat they will co-operate order to retain the rope 12 bet-ween them.

The operating lever 10 is fashioned or constructed with a pair of oppositely disposed circular cam projections 10 on the side next the main part 1, the surfaces of which by contacting with the rounded edges 23 of the inner end of the main part 1 move the part 1 1 through the main part, so ensuring that the gripping face 16 on the upward extension of the movable part 1 1 is moved towards the gripping face 7 on extension 6 of the main part 1, in order that the rope 12 may be retained between them, as shown, when the lever 10 is rotated to place it in the position in which it is shown in the drawings.

The lever 10, as shown, is preferably weighted at its outer end, as indicated at 2%, and is provided with a pin which comes into contact with the stop or projection 9 on the main part 1 when the rope 12 is in position between the recesses or gripping faces 7 and 16.

Means, preferably in the form of a spring, as shown, is preferably provided for returning or assisting in returning the movable part 14 to allow of the rope 12 disengaging the jockey readily, when the lever 10 is operated to release the vehicle from the rope 12. This spring 26 is arranged between the main part 1 and the lug or projection 20 on the movable part 14, around the pin 22 which projects through and works in the hole 21 in said lug or projection 20.

It is obvious that operated by hand, or that athe like may be arranged to engage and move the operating lever 10 and so automatically release the jockey from the rope at any predetermined point.

, A jockey or rope grip constructed as above described, combines the advantages of the swan-neck jockey or that type which the device may be striking bar or is able to rotate about its point of attachment to the vehicle so as to hold the rope by forming or tending to form a kink or bend therein, with those of other forms of positive grip devices for the'same purpose.

It is more sure in action than these devices and is inexpensive to maintain in working i order. v Most positive grips depend on cams or screw devices to hold the rope by pressure and, owing to variations in the diame- "ter of the rope, slipping of the rope in the down between and 16.

grip is common, while great wear and tear of cams, screws, and special aw liners is entailed.

In operation the rope 12 will be guided the rounded faces of the projecting parts 6 and 15 into the recesses 7 The operating lever 10 will now be rotated until the pin 25 contacts with the stop 9.

The gripping recesses 7, 16, will faces provided by the thus be brought together around the rope, whereupon the jockey will operate in a manner similar to the ordinary swan-neck type of jockey, but upward movement of the rope in the jockey will not be possible owing to it being engaged and retained in the oppositely disposed recessesprising a main part constructed at one end to'engage the haulage rope and at the other end connected to a part which forms a pivot for the device, a part slidably mounted upon the main part and constructed at one end to cooperate with haulage rope at some distance from the centre line of the pivot so that they grip the rope by operating with the main part to keep the main and movable parts together to reventdisengagement of the rope from etwcen the main and movable parts by movement in an upward direction, as set forth.

2. A device of the nature indicated, com prising a main part constructed at one end to engage the haulage rope and at the other end connected to a part which pivot for the device, a part slidably mounted upon the main part and constructed at one end to cooperate with the end of the main part to grip or retain between'theni the haulage rope at some distance from the centre line of the pivot so that they grip the rope. by tending to bend or kink it, means mounted on the movable part and co-operating with the main part to keep the main and movable parts together to prevent disengagement of the rope from be tween the main and movable parts by movement in an upward direction, said means being in the form of a lever, and a stop for limiting the movement of said lever, as set forth.

3. A device of prising a main part constructed at one end to engage the haulage rope and at the other end connected to a part which forms a pivot for the device, a part slidably mounted upon the main part and constructed at one end to co-operate with the end of the main part to grip or retain between them the haulage rope at some distance from the centre line of the pivot so that they grip the rope by vtending to bend or kink it,

the end of the main part to grip or retain'between them the tending to bend or kinkit, and means mounted on the movable part and co- 7 forms a c means mounted on the movable part and co-operating with the main part to keep the main and movable parts together to prevent disengagement of the rope from between the main and movable parts by movement in an upward direction, said means being in the form of a lever, and means for limiting the movement of said lever, said latter means comprising nart projecting from the lever and a co-operating projec tion on the main part, as set forth.

i. A device of the nature indicated, com- PllSlIlg a main part connected to a part which forms a pivot for the device, a part connected to and movable in relation to the main part, said main and movable parts being constructed to grip or retain between them the haulage rope at some distance from the centre line of the pivot, and means in the form of a lever co-operating with said movable part to keep the main and movable parts together to prevent accidental release 1' disengagement of the rope or cable from the device in an upward direction, said lcver being provided with a pair of oppositely disposed cam projections adapted to engage and co-operate with the main part for actuating the movable part to attach the device to the rope, as set forth.

A device of the nature indicated, comprising a main part connected to a part which forms a pivotfor the device, a part connected to and slidably and non-rotatabh, engaging the main part, said main and movable parts being constructed to grip or re tain between them the haulage rope at some distance from the centre line of the pivot, means in the form of a weighted lever pivoted upon and co-operating with said movable part to keep the main and movable parts together to prevent accidental release or disengagement of the rope or cable from the device in an upward direction, said lever being provided with a pair of oppositely disposed cam projections adapted to engage and co-operate with the end of the main part remote from the gripping face for actuating the movable part to attach the device to the rope, as set forth.

6. A device of the nature indicated, comprising a main part connected to a part which forms a pivot for the device, a part connected to and movable in relation to the main part, said main and movable parts being constructed to grip or retain between them the haulage rope at some distance from the centre line of the pivot, means co-operating with said movable part to keep the main and movable parts together to prevent accidental release or disengagement of the rope or cable from the device in an upward direction, said means comprising a lever having a pair of oppositely disposed cam projections adapted to engage the main part, and spring means for moving or aiding in moving the movable part to release the rope from the device, set forth.

7. A device of the nature indicated, comprising a main part connected to a part which forms a pivot for the device, a part connected to and movable in relation to the main part, said main part and movable part being constructed to grip or retain between them the haulage rope at some distance from the centre line of the pivot, means co-operating with said movable part to keep the main and movable parts togethor to prevent accidental release or disengagement of the rope or cable from the device in an upward direction, and spring means for moving or aiding in moving the movable part to release the rope from the device. said spring means consisting of pin lined to the main part and adapted to engage in and work thmugh a hole in the movable part and a spring arranged around the pin bet-ween the main and movable parts, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS lilILl'JAR Sh'llTl'l. Witnesses JOHN S. RICHARDS, ARTHUR THOMPSON. 

